Signal code sending device



- Sept. 15, 1931. H. BURDICK 1,823,586

SIGNAL CODE SENDING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet lOPERATING min o SIGNALS 64 8 6% BUTTON i F L1 o POWER TO TELEPHONE Sept.15, 1931. BURDicK 1,823,586

SIGNAL CODE SENDING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2im1w% Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERTBURDICK, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASS IGNOB TO SIGNAL ENGINEER- ING &MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF.

MASSACHUSETTS SIGNAL coon SENDING nEvIo'E Original application filedJanuary 3, 1927, Serial No. 158,665, Iatentfl'o. 1,809,020, dated Iune9, 1931. Divided and this application filed December 31,1928. Serial No.329,601.

' The present application is a division of my copending applicationSerial No. 158,665 filed January 3, 1927, Patent No. 1,809,020, June 9,1931, and relates particularly to an lm'proved 6 signal code sendingdevice of the type employed for controlling, usually from a (11stance,the operation of various k ndsof ap aratus for sounding or displaying, amu t1- plicity of different signalsat separate stations. Calling andlocating mdivlduals by code number as well as the sounding oftime andfire alarms are well known uses of such a device;

The code sending device of the present application primarily conslsts ofan electr c current commutating mechanism and the object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved electro-motive means for actuatingthe commutating device, so as to operate the signalswith proper spacingand in the sequence determined by a code setting devlce. For purposesvof illustration, have shown 1n the present application portions of acode setting device shown in my copending application Serial No. 148,464filed November 15, 1026, although it is to be understood that the codesending device of the resent applicat on might also be as well emp oyedin connection with other types of code setting devices.

39 The above and. other advantageous features of my invention willhereinafter more fully appear with reference to the accompanylngdrawings, in which g Fig. 1 is-a diagrammatic view showing theelectrical connections of my code sending device when used in connectionwith the code setting device of a signal system.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the code sending 0 device forming the subjectmatter of the present application, a portion of the commutator diskbeing broken away to show the mechanism.

Fig. .3 is a front elevation along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, turnedaround 180 with respect to Figure 2.

Fig. 4"is aperspective view of the toggle switch'shown Fig. 1.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

employed in my system, one code setting unit being indicated at A, whilethe base outline of the commutator of the core sending device "isindicated at B. As clearly set forth in my aforesaid copendingapplication No. 148,464, the code setting unit provides a. series ofparallel bus bars numbered 1 to 9, inclusive, and St, whichare'connected by terminals to correspondingly numbered terminals on thebase B'. There is also provided an instrument base indicated at D andcertain terminals designated L IL R and St are connected tocorrespondingly designated tenninals on the commutator baseB byconductors extending vertically through the code settin unit A. l

he commutator provides three groups of contacts 0 to c inclusive, whichare connected to the bus bar terminals 1 to '9 inclusive, thecorresponding contacts of each group bemg interconnected so that whenany contact of the first group is energized the correspondingly numberedcontact ofeach of the other groups is also energized; The commutatoralso provides a brush arm 10 rotatable clockwise-with a shaft 11centrally located with respect to the groups of contacts 0 to cinclusive. As best shown in Fi 3, the brush arm ldcarries at one end adou le brush 12 which provides a pair of spring fingers 12a and 126, theouter finger 12a riding over the signal contacts 0 while the innerfinger 12b rides over an annular contact ring 13. The ring 13 is adaptedto be connected to the terminal R only when a pair of normall opencontacts 14 are bridged by a pivote switch bar 15, the operation ofwhich will be hereinafter described.

The brush arm 10 carries at its other end a double brush 16 whichprovides a pair of spring fingers 16a and 166, the outer one 1611 ofwhich is adapted to ride over an annular contact ring 17- that ispermanently connected to the contacts c that are in turn connected tothe bus bar 1 and the line terminal L The ring 17 provides an insulatedgap at 17 a which the finger 16a engages when the device is at rest. Theinner brush finger 16b is connected to an annular contact ring 18 thatis permanently connected to the terminal St. The terminal St is alsopermanently connected to one terminal of the coil 22 of anelectro-magnet 19 which forms part of the impelling mechanism for thecommutator shaft 11. The other terminal of the coil 22 is connected toline terminal L through. a air of contacts 20 which are normally ridgedby the switch bar 15 as will hereinafter appear. i

Referring now to Fig. 2, the electro-magnet 19 is shown as of, thealternating or direct current type and provides a laminated core 21, acoil 22 and a laminated armature 23 pivotally supported on the core 21by a pin 24.

The free end of the armature 23 has a bolt 25 extendingtherethrough, theends of which are received in the parallel sides of a brass yoke 26, theends of which are also supported by the pivot pin 24. Thus the yoke 26is adapted to move with'the armature 23 when the latter is attracted byenergization of the coil 22, and this movement of the yoke is utilizedto effect a step-by-step movement of a pawl 28 pivoted on an arm 29 thatextends from a collar 30 loose on the shaft 11. A spring 31 anchored atone end on the arm 29 serves to maintain the .pawl 28 in engagement Withthe teeth on the wheel 27. The collar 30 of the pawl arm 29 also carriesa gear 32 which is in mesh with a pinion 33 on a shaft 34. The shaft 34carries a crank arm 35- which is connected by a link 36 to the free endof the armature yoke 26.

By the construction just described, each time the electro-magnet 19attracts its armature '23 the movement of the latter will, through theyoke 26, impart a turning movement to the shaft 34. This movement of theshaft 34 will cause the pinion 33 to turn the gear 32 enough to step theratchet wheel 27 forward through the angular displacement of one tooth.When the circuit of the coil 22 is interrupted by means about to bedescribed, the armature 23 will be moved outwardly from the core 21 bythe pull of a coil spring 37 anchored at one end to a lug 38 andconnected at its other end to a stud 39 on the large gear 32, see Fig.3. The spring 37 is to its initial position, thereby causing the pawl28to ratchet over the next succeeding tooth preparatory to the nextstepping operation- The above described mechanism for imparting astepping movement to" the ,commutator brush arm 10 is particularlydesigned so as to obtain the stepping movement with the development of aminimum amount of power by the elec'tro-magnet 19. It is known that analternating current magnet developing its maximum power will tend tomake a considerable buzz and chatter which would be undesirable in asignal sending device of this type and that the chatter is greater witha small air gap because of the greater power developed. Consequently,the electromagnet 19 is operated with a relatively large air gap betweenthe armature 23 and core 21 so that when the coil 22 is ener 'zed theage obtained by the pinion 33 driving the large gear 32. With thisarrangement, it is possible to turn the commutator shaft 11 with thedevelopment .of a considerably smaller amount of power by theelectro-magnet, than would be possible should the armature yoke 26 beconnected directly to the gear 32. In

order to provide for adjustment of the yoke 26 on the armature 23, theyoke has .a slot 26a through which the bolt 25 extends.

The pinion shaft 34 also carries a gear 40 in mesh with a pinion 41 on acountershaft 42, and this shaft 42 is inturn connected to a flywheelshaft 43 by means of step-up gearing 44, so that the fl wheel 45 on theshaft 43 is driven at a great increased speed,

as compared to the pinion s aft 34. The flywheel 45 acts as an inertiagovernor so as to store up energy of rotation when the armature 23 ismoved, the energy so stored being utilized to complete the motion of amake and break device for controlling the ener gization of the winding22 and the sounding of the signals, as will now be described.

The means for interrupting the electromagnetic motor circuit betweencontacts 20 after each step of advance and which permits the springreturn of the armature preparatory to the next step of advance, ispreferabl mechanically interlocked by the bar 15 wit anti-arcing switchcontacts 14 connected in circuit, preferably in series, with thesignaling contacts a. of the commutator, so as to prevent sparking atthe latter. For this purpose, I mount the insulated double-ended bar 15on a support 46 andprovide current car- .tion

aaaoae rying contact posts 47 and 48 at the opposite ends thereof.Contact post 47 in circuit closing pgsition establishes abridgingconnectween the spring contacts 20 which are mounted on an'upstandin insulating support 49 and are electrical y connected one toone terminal of the electro-magnet coil 22 and the other to baseterminal Il -L Spring contacts 14 on support 50 coact with post 48, onecontact 14 being connected to the ring 13 of the cummutator block andthe other to the relay terminal R which leads through the signal unitstack to the master relay. The upstanding insulating contact fingersupports 49 and 50 are riveted to the upstanding arms of a supportbracket 51, attached to the metal base 52.

The double-ended switch bar 15 is oscillated by a toggle snap action toclose the antiarc contacts 14 through post 48 and to open the motorcircuit contacts 20 when the armature 23 is attracted, and conversely toreclose the motor circuit contacts 20 and open the signal contacts 14when the armature is retracted by its spring 37. The toggle actioncomprises a link 53 pivoted at 54 to a crank 55 rigidly secured to themiddle of the switch bar 15. The pawl stepping arm 29 has a longextension 56 with a downturned eye 5 through which the extremity of thetoggle link 53 extends, a coil spring 58 about the toggle linkintervening between said eye and a shoulder 53 on said toggle links Stoppins 59 with insulating rollers 60a and 60b limit the stroke of thecrank 55 and, therefore, of the contact posts 47 and 48 to preventmovement thereof beyond circuit making position. Cushioned stop posts 61may also be pro.-

vided to limit the stroke of the toggle-actuating arm extension56. Themechanical operation of the toggle is such that whent e coil 22 isenergize to turn the pawl arm 29, the link 53 turns on the roller 60wvery easily, thereby breaking the toggle as the extension 56 lines upwith pivot pin 54. This snaps the post 47 apvay from contacts 20 todeenergize coil 22, but the energy stored in flywheel 45 is sufiicientto throw the toggle all the way so that the crank 55 engages the righthand roller 606. I This causes the post 48 to bridge the signal contacts14 momentarily, until the spring 37, acting on gear 32, overcomes theaction of the inertia governor and returns the arm 29 and breaks thetoggle again.

Having described the various parts entering into my invention theoperation thereof will now be described, with reference to Fig. 1, inwhich parts of the electro-motor of the commutating device is shownschematically. In Fig. 1 there is also shown a key I: of the codesetting device in three different positions, as indicated, the operationof this key being fully shown and described in my aforesaid copendingapplication, Serial No. 148,464. It is therefore ot .the coil 22.

believed necessary to more fully describe the key is herein, other thanto say that when the key is is in its inoperative osition or out none ofthe fingers f on the us bars engage the same, whereas when the key In isdepressed to its operating position, the fingers on the bus bars 1, 2, 4and 6 are in electrical contact therewith to sound the signal 211. The

key It is also adapted to assume a wag in no current can flow throughthe finger 16a from the ener 'zed commutator ring 17 to owever, when theoperator pushes the key In all the way in before releasing it, the coil22 will be immediately energized by current flowing from one side of thepower source at the terminal 1-L and from thence through the busbar 1and the key In to the terminal St of the commutator. From the terminalSt the current flows to the coil 22 through the then closed coil 22 atthe contacts 20, but as previously described, the spring 37 returns thearmature 23, thereby reestablishing the circuit of the coil 22 at thecontacts 20. Current then flows from the continuously energizedcommutator ring 17 through the finger 16a to the other commutator rin18, as indicated by heavy arrows, and it is obvious that the coil 22will be thus energized each time the contacts 20 are bridged by the post47 on the bar 15. Thus the armature brush arm 10 will have astep-by-step clockwise movement imparted thereto until it has made onecomplete revolution, whereupon the finger 16a will again engage theinsulating gap 17a in the rin 17 and the parts will come to rest,

As t e brush arm 10 is stepped around, the brush 12a carried therebywill engage the contacts 0' consecutively, and it is a parent that whenthe brush 12a engages t e first contact 0 of the first group, currentwill flow from the terminal 1;--L through the brush 12 and commutatorring 13 to one relay terminal R through the then closed contacts 14, asindicated by small arrows. The terminal R is connected through the baseD to one terminal of the winding 62 of a which is connected tothe sourceof power through the terminal R L When the reay wlnding 62'is soenergized its armature 63 will engage the stationary contacts 64 andthereby connect a plurality of signals 65 to a source of power notshown, thus sounding the signals 65 throughout the establishment.

From a consideration of the operation of the toggle switch it is evidentthat the signal contacts 14, will be bridged by the post 48 onlymomentarily before the spring 37 returns the armature 23 so that thesignals 65 are only sounded for one short impulse. When the brush 12a onthe arm 10 engages the next contact the master relay winding 62 is againenergized, the current this time flowing from the bus bar 1 to the busbar 2 through the ke k and from thence to the terminal 2, the rush 12and the relay terminal R This sounds the signals 65 again, but on thenext step of the arm 10 the signals are not sounded, owing to the factthat the bus bar 3 is not connected to the key k. When, however, thebrush 12a engages the commutator contacts 0 and 0, the master relaywinding 62 is energized each time, thus causing the signals 65 to besounded a third and fourth time with an interval therebetween, theseimpulses representing the code call 211. After this the brush 12a passesover the remaining contacts 0, c and 0 of the first group withoutsounding any more signals.

As the brush finger 12a is stepped over the second group of contacts 0,the si als 65 are sounded in the same sequence as efore, correspondingto the code number 211, and the same thin occurswhen the brush 12apasses over the t ird group of contacts, whereupon the brush arm 10comes to rest as the brush 16a engages the insulated gap in the ring 17at 17a. 7

From the foregoing then it is apparent that each time a key of the codesettlng unit is pushed all the way in it will initiate the operation ofthe code sending device by momentarily energizing the coil 22 of theelectromotor, whereupon the commutator arm will be step (1 through acomplete cycle without any fiirther actlon on the part of the operator.As the arm 10 is turned it will cause the signals to be sounded inaccordance with the sequence determined by the arrangement of thefingers on the bus bars 1 to 9 inclusive, these fingers serving toconnect the corresponding commutator contacts a to the continuouslyenergized bus bar 1.

It will be noted that in the foregoing operation the sna switch contacts14 are connected in series with all of the signal contacts 0, whenestablished, and that these snap switch contacts 14 are snapgied to opencircuit position by the action 0 the return spring 37 of theelectro-magnetic motor when the latter resets the pawl 28 of theclockwork preparatory to the succeeding advance of the commutator brusharm 10. Thus the switch contacts 14'are brought to open position and thesignalling circuit is interrupted prior to any stepping advance of thecommutator arm 10, so that no sparking can occur at the commutatorcontacts 0. After the electro-magnet has effected a step of movement ofthe commutator arm 10, the contacts 14 are immediately closed to permita succeeding signal operation therethrough.

The governing flywheel 45 has considerable weight and its 'eflectiveinertia is greatly increased by driving it through multiplying gears,thus the speed of the motor armature 23 is greatly reduced while, at thesame time, power is stored up for carrying the peak loads, as when thearmature 23 is forcing the switch toggle toward its dead center. Theoperation of the flywheel 45 so times the mechanism as to affordsubstantial intervals between successive steps of the commutator. Thisgives the master relay and the bells, horns, etc., time enough for eachto complete its stroke or unitary impulse constituting a code element,before the next stepping stroke moves the commutator arm off thecontact. Also, the stepping movement itself is deliberate, giving ampleintervals between successive code elements, as is necessary forclearness and intelligibility of the code signal, as a whole. Theadjustment between the armature 23 and yoke 26 permits changes in thetiming of the mechanism.

I claim:

1. A code signalling device including .a plurality of commutatorcontacts, a rotary contactor arm therefor, mechanism for advancing saidarm in a stepping movement from contact to contact, a snap switch havingarcing contacts connected in series with said contactor arm and therebyinhibiting arcing at all of said commutator contacts, toggle meanstocontrol said snap switch, actuating means interlocked with thecommutator arm advancing mechanism to cause the toggle means to o eratethe snap switch to open circuit position prior to each step of advanceof the arm, and electromagnetic means under control of said armadvancing mechanism furnishing the energy for re-closing said snapswitch preparatory to advancing said contactor arm to a succeedingcommutator contact.

2. A code signalling device including a commutator having contacts, acommutator arm for coaction with said contacts, a code announcinginstrument means actuated from: a common source of electric power foraeaasee ing the commutator arm, a first switch for connecting saidelectric power to said electromagnet, a second switch for connectingsaid announcing instrument to said commutator arm, means interlockedwith said linkage for opening said first switch after each steppingoperation and closing the second switch, retractile means, and meansresponsive to said retractile means in withdrawing said armature fromthe electromagnet for opening said second switch in disconnecting saidannouncing instrument while reclosing the first switch in reenergizingsaid electromagnet.

3, A. code signalling apparatus including a commutator having aplurality of contacts adapted to be selectively connected in circuit, inaccordance with the code to he announced, a commutator arm adapted tomove over said contacts, a current source, means deriving energy fromsaid current to both move the commutator arm and to transmit signallingcurrent therethrough, said meansincluding a commutator arm steppingcircuit including an electromagnet, asignalling circuit includingfurther contacts in circuit with the commutator arm, and meansmechanically inter-related with said commutator arm and electricallyinter-related with said electromagnet for automatically closing thecircuit of said electromagnet preparatory to each step of the commutatorarm and for automatically closing said further contacts in the intervalsbetween successive advances of the commutator arm,-either of saidstepping and signalling circuits heing open when the other is closed.

A code signalling apparatus including a commutator having a plurality offixed contacts, a rotary commutator arm, motive means for advancing saidarm, said at: including an electromagnet having an armature, linkagecoecting the armature to said commutator am to edect a step hy stepadvance thereof from contact to contact, a toggle operated harmechanically associated with said linkage, a first switch contact forsaid toggle har snapped loy the movement of the linkage after eachstepping advance, to interrupt the circuit to said electromagnet, saidtoggle bar having a second switch contact, a signalling circuit to saidcommutamr arm including said second switch which is closed when thefirst switch contact of said toggle har is open and a spring serving towithdraw the armature them the electromagnet in efiectingsaid toggle harto snap open the signalling circuit to the commutator arm preparatory tointerruption of contact at the commutator upon the subsequent step ofthe commutator arm.

In a code signalling apparatus, in comhination, two pairs of contacts, adouble arm toggle, a switch member in engagement at all times with oneor the other of said p of contacts and controlled by said toggle, acommutator having a plurality of contact segments and a rotary armtherefor, one pair of HERBERT BURDICK.

